Convention or catwalk? Obama stunned in the Tracy Reese dress she wore for her DNC speech, a blue-and-rose colored frock with a regal brocade print. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Talk of jobs and health care may have dominated election season, but Michelle Obama and Ann Romney’s fashion picks also created quite a buzz, with each bringing her own brand of style to election season.

For Obama, wearing American designers was a recurring theme. The first lady opted primarily for dresses this campaign season, favoring A-line silhouettes, vibrant colors and bold prints. All three preferences were visible in the Tracy Reese dress she wore for her Democratic National Convention speech. “She looked great,” says Isabel Wilkinson, fashion editor at the Daily Beast. “She has become famous for her incredible arms, and the dress accentuated that.”

Without the four years in the White House that Obama has under her belt, Romney was tasked with finding her fashion footing on the national stage. Most agree Romney’s Oscar de la Renta looks — which she wore for two debates and her Republican National Convention debut — were successes. “Oscar is a natural choice,” says InStyle fashion director Cindy Weber-Cleary. “He knows how to make a lady look like a lady, so you almost can’t go wrong [with him].”

Known for mixing high-end apparel with more affordable pieces, Obama made what both experts describe as a “smart” move by recycling a previously worn Thom Browne dress for the final debate. Romney also made strides, Wilkinson says, refining her style on the trail to fit the White House mold. Once content in power suits and khakis, Romney was spotted in more refined dresses and pronounced accessories as the campaign advanced.

Only one will claim the FLOTUS title tomorrow, but they’ve both put their style stamp on politics forever.